Battlestar Galactica

This is a cult classic, that I believe everyone should watch. I was in the middle of the third season when GoT final season aired, and I couldn't put this down long enough to watch GoT!

It's intense, deeply philosophical, and felt like something I was willing to commit more energy into than into any relationship I've had, ever! (While that says a thing or two about me, it definitely says A LOT about this series)

When George Lucas announced that he was to make the Star Wars prequels I had this preconception of a darker, better acted, and more more grown up version of the movies that were made in the late seventies - early eighties. Instead we got a bunch of kids movies, littered with some of the most terrible cinematic decisions ever put on celluloid.

And then the re-imagined Battlestar Galactica came along, which I must add, I watched from start to finish only after the show had made it's debut on mainstream television.

I was initially sceptical of whether this would be any good, but after having reached the finale I can honestly say that this is quite simply the best sci-fi show ever made. The scripts are top notch, the acting superb with a real heart and soul, and characters that, even with their faults, will be remembered with great affection by the viewers for many years to come.

This is the template for all future TV shows. I't does not overstay it's welcome, knows when to stop, and constantly delivers fresh, new ideas as the seasons progress.

Series 1 was a great introduction; series 2 built on the initial success and delivered some of the shows highlights; season 3 was awesome for the first half (until the writers strike kicked in just after half way - but still highly entertaining); and season 4 put the icing on the cake with what I consider to be a tremendous and satisfying end to this great series.

The only downside was that I wished it could have continued, but I guess it is better to exit on a high and leave the crowd wanting more.

For me this has stripped Star Wars of it's crown and raised the bar where although it may one day be equalled, will never be bettered.

Awesome

I watched this when it first aired in the 2000s, having enjoyed the short-lived 70s original, in simpler times, and I have just binge watched it again. For me, it was better the second time around. Perhaps that says something about me, twenty years later, but this show is definitely a better watch without the weekly wait.

I remember being glad that it was done after four seasons and that it was time to end it, but that was not quite how I felt the second time around. I do think that this length for the show was about right, but I wasn't fed-up with it by the time it got there this time around.

Some of the episodes are a bit dull and the series generally is bleak (even if for good reason), which on a weekly basis can make that harder to go on with, and be entertained by (that is the point, right?), but being able to move straight on to the next episode can negate that sense of disappointment or dismay from dull or especially bleak episodes. The binge-watching, and the ability to move straight on to the next episode, improved the experience for me from the first time around.

There are still things that irk. Without giving too much away, the use of characters and places that existed only in someone's head, that no one else could see (with the odd exception), started with one character and then got spread to being (over)used for others.

For Cylons, the explanation that they had the ability to project such things inside their minds, as some advanced form of daydreaming, might have been acceptable in itself, but for the fact that this started and occurred regularly throughout the run, with a human. It was then used with other humans at certain points, and was relied upon way too much for storytelling.

The main character, that this (projecting) is regularly used with, could only have been insane for this to happen. It was surely a manifestation of their mental illness. Although this was to some degree left open to other more mystical explanations, I never accepted that this was down to anything other than their own insanity, even with the epilogue trying to tell me otherwise. To then have some other human character use this 'projection', if for different reasons, I didn't like nor buy into. It just became an overused way of telling the story that took away from why it was used in the first place - which was because of the monumental guilt of one character, over their actions, and their resulting mental instability. This was also to enable the regular appearance of another character who could not otherwise be physically present. On the plus side, it does occasionally give rise to some wry humour.

I did not buy into any of the mysticism of the show, nor that a major character died and then returned from the dead without any rational explanation, or really with any kind of explanation whatsoever. Some strange events here were NOT left open to interpretation as being something that could have had either a rational OR a mystical explanation, which you could then choose to believe whichever way you prefer. Given where the show ends up, I felt that this was a terrible, divisive choice, that clashes the mystical with reality. It was used to paper over the killing of a character and subsequently bringing them back alive (?) without any adequate level of explanation, of any kind. At least it didn't happen in a shower and mean disregarding some past episodes, so it wasn't quite that bad, but still...

This is essentially why I cannot give the show higher marks and I have been unsure of a 7 or 8 out of 10, but did decide on an 8 as more befitting than a 7.

This version took the 70s original, kept the titular ship and its "Vipers", some of the main characters, albeit changing some of their names to callsigns, upgraded them and the Cylons and, despite the reservations and misgivings above, made it more realistic in terms of storyline and its characters. It deliberately made it bleaker than the original, perhaps too much so at times, but that would have been more in keeping with the situation that the human race found itself in, than the somewhat unphased, upbeat 70s version and its fully episodic format.

The characters had flaws, made mistakes, sometimes monstrously big mistakes, and they were certainly more rounded than the original ones (who were too thin as characters by the time we got to 1980, let alone the 2020s). This time they had the character depth demanded by a 21st century audience, to be able to survive as a show at all and outlast the original.

And what to do with crimes and other mistakes by these characters, when you have such a limited number of survivors and people who were able to take over roles. This makes for interesting plot choices and levels of forgiveness.

It was also extremely well acted, from the top down, which also says a lot about the writing that enabled that.

I had been unsure as to whether I wanted to watch this again, given how I felt about it the first time, but I'm glad I did. It still stands up 20 years later in terms of SFX and storytelling and acting, and outshines all too many of the more recent sci-fi shows that have come in its wake.

I was introduced to this show by our lovable goof on The Office Dwight Schrute. I began this show with no expectations as I was not sure how the effects would hold up. Now, as I sit digesting the entirety of the show. I am sitting in awe of its magnificent characters, thoughtful writing, and well-rounded story that feels more like a philosophical journey I have been on the past few weeks. If you read no further know this show is 110% worth your time. As well as if you make it to the last episode and the last minutes your mind will be blown in 2024. So rare for a show to be so timeless but I can say with certainty this show truly is a timeless masterpiece.

The story is about humans that created "Cylons" or basically robot soldier slaves that resemble the Terminator but are more than just a metallic skeleton. These robots rebel and destroy the original home world called Caprica. There are only 40,000 survivors set adrift on the Battlestar Galactica with a small fleet of civilian ships they are a protecting. They are in search of a new home but try to keep the stability of the life they once had. However, this comes with a shocking twist about the Cylons and their capabilities. This sends you barreling on a journey of paranoia and excitement as you learn more throughout the seasons.

Characters are one of the driving forces behind a Sci-Fi show like this one and they nailed them. Occasionally some of the characters do annoying things. However, they are always excusable and do not become a constant annoyance. Just certain actions they believed in taking that were clearly wrong. It can be said that's what makes a good character. No characters ever do a 180 and start acting differently. They bring these characters to life and give them depth. I don't want to ruin anything but I would follow Admiral Adama into the depths of hell. He is just that compelling as a military man and leader.

This is the only part where the show suffers sometimes. Its pretty easy to spot they didn't have the whole thing planned out. Even with this the show plays like a beautiful record. Each season you can feel yourself winding towards the goal of the show. Yet somehow each season feels like a journey of itself. I can fondly remember the events of season 1 yet now it feels as far as the Galactica herself travels in the show.

In conclusion I will say part of the ending could have been better. They could have made it much much better. Also be prepared to be annoyed at a character. Just a stupid bit of writing but its forgivable. Sort of. I dont like to spoil a good experience so you're gonna have to be annoyed for yourself :) However, the hole Game of Thrones ending left in my heart has been filled with this amazing ending. I am floating on cloud nine and likely will be for the next few days. Generally I want to move onto the next show on my list but I can honestly say I want to re-watch this show. I want more to think about. Explore more questions about what it means to be human as we create intelligences that may rival our own. I have never seen a show draw so many parallels to our reality with such fantastic ideas that eventually boil down to very simple ones we have heard throughout the centuries. Simply fantastic television 10/10.

"Be the man you want to be till the day you die." -Colonel Saul Tigh.

I came across this show in lockdown and assumed it was the old one from the 70s. When I saw 73 episodes I laughed, and thought I'd watch just one or two. Turns out 73 was not enough...

This series is comprised of all the things I love. Sci fi, social policy, politics, action, adventure, great characters.

Take a bunch of people and strand them in space. They will need over time to create a society. That society will need to be governed. By whom? What rules will they put in place and why? Will it be democratic? Which of the historic structures will they choose to keep and which will they discard? What about workers rights and unions? Prisons? These are all topics carefully considered, but against a backdrop of exciting space action. I can't recommend it highly enough.